Posted by wishingstar on January 22, 2007, at 11:40:48
In reply to Re: I just need to whine (long), posted by Llurpsie_Noodle on January 22, 2007, at 10:54:23
Thanks llurpsie.. I'm sorry you've been through this too. Twice even. You're right, it's no fun. I also only have a small little cluster, maybe the size of a half dollar.
The itching has mostly stopped. It comes and goes, but I can pretty much ignore it now. Now the pain has started though. Luckily it's not terribly intense... it's bearable.. but definitely uncomfortable. Sort of a burning tingly feeling. And the dryness of the skin/scabs against my shirt seems to make it worse, so I've been laying around with my shirt half up a lot. Luckily I live alone. :)
The steroid cream I have is clotrimazole and betamethasone combined. I believe the second one is the steroid, and the first is the anti-fungal, since the first doctor thought that was what the problem was. The doctor who diagnosed shingles said I could keep using it for the itch anyway but it seemed to make it worse. Could have been the anti-fungal part doing it. When I stopped using it, the itch mostly went away and the pain appeared. I prefer the pain over the itching. I used hydrocortisone cream a few times as well and it helped some. I was also taking clairitin and benadryl at night, but I'm not anymore.
I'm taking acyclovir (anti-viral) five times a day for another few days also. I dont know if it's working, but it doesnt hurt I guess.
I really think some of the pain is due to the fact that it's just so dry. My shirt rubbing against it feels like sand paper. Did you experience this? I know anti-fungals are drying so I'm trying to figure out if this is normal or if the drug created it and a little moisturizing lotion might help.
I'm trying my best to distract myself but being sick and alone brought my depression back in a BIG way. So the motivation to do anything is lacking right now. I skipped a meeting this morning and blamed shingles, but in reality I could have gone, I just dont want to leave my house. Tonight I have ballet class and I may go. The teacher gave me permision to wear a tshirt rather than leotard because there's no way I could handle something that tight rubbing on the rash (its on my lower back). I'm going to try to go. We'll see.Thanks for posting. I'm sorry to be so long winded with everyone... I think I'm just so desperate for someone to talk to right now, I take any chance I can get... haha. Take care.
poster:wishingstar
thread:724620
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20070122/msgs/725177.html